Philadelphia Union fire head coach following brutal defeat to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami

The Philadelphia Union has followed in the footsteps of the Portland Timbers and decided to use the FIFA World Cup break in the MLS schedule to kick off the search for a new head coach, firing Bradley Carnell.

The South African leaves during just his second season with the team, having guided the Union to the quarter finals of the MLS Cup and the semi finals of the U.S. Open Cup in 2025.

Bradley’s exit follows a torrid start to the season for the Union, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just one win and seven points to their name. His final game in charge proved a memorable one at the very least, losing 6-4 at Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in an end-to-end game which was tied at 4-4 at the break, with both the Herons' Luis Suárez and Philly's Milan Iloski netting hat tricks.

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In a statement released by Carnell, he said, “I want to thank the fans, the players, the staff, and everyone involved with this club for the support and commitment during my time here.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished together and grateful for the relationships and memories we built along the way. To my staff and especially the players, thank you for your hard work and dedication through both the highs and the challenges, you inspired me every day and I appreciate the opportunity to have been part of this team.”

Team principal owner, Jay Sugarman, also released a statement, saying, “On behalf of the Philadelphia Union organization, I want to thank Bradley for his dedication and commitment to the club during his time here.

“He brought professionalism and passion to his role, and we appreciate everything he has contributed to the team and the organization. We are confident that he will find success in his future coaching endeavors.”

Carnell has been replaced by Union II boss Ryan Richter on an interim basis, with Sugarman stating, “While the search for a new head coach begins immediately, we have full confidence in Ryan's ability to lead the team through this transition, given his familiarity with the players and strong commitment to the club’s philosophy and style of play.”

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Richter, a former defender who spent his career bouncing around the USL, NASL, and MLS, has been a member of Philadelphia’s coaching staff since 2018, becoming a first-team assistant in 2022, before taking charge of the Union II in 2025. They wound up finishing third in Group A, going on to reach the Conference Finals.

His familiarity with the club’s younger players could prove useful as they look to bounce back this season, especially in the case of 16-year-old future Manchester City midfielder Cavan Sullivan.

Set to join the Premier League giants when he turns 18, and having already trained with them previously, the youngster has seen his gametime significantly increase this season, appearing in 17 games, scoring three goals, and assisting a further four in all competitions.

With expectations sky high for Sullivan, having a coach who he played under 14 times last season when not with the first team could prove beneficial as he continues to develop.

Along with Carnell's exit, the Union also announced that Jon Scheer is taking over as Sporting Director, following Earnst Tanner's suspension.